Speak the culture britain be fluent in b 193

Hip hop has made inroads into the charts in recent years, led by American artists but restyled by British acts like Dizzee Rascal and Kano, who also draw rap, dancehall, garage and other elements of urban music – a vital force in modern British culture – into their work Perhaps the unexpected revelation of the later Noughties has been the rise of the female singer/songwriter Amy Winehouse, Adele and Duffy have reshaped listening habits with smoky, soulful vocals that, however derivative, repeatedly impress Both Winehouse and Adele attended the Brit School, a performing arts college which, along with reality TV shows like Pop Idol, Popstars: The Rivals and The XFactor (which generously coughed up Girls Aloud, Leona Lewis (another Brit School graduate) and Will Young), perhaps proves that modern pop stars are made not born The Brit-led reality TV talent show format has been sold around the world, a source of national pride or shame depending on your outlook Five British music festivals Glastonbury Held most years in June, in Somerset, it is the world’s largest performing arts festival Set in 900 acres of farmland, or mud, depending on the weather Aldeburgh A programme of predominantly classical music unfurls on the Suffolk coast each June Most of the action actually happens in the converted maltings at Snape Creamfields Dance music reigns in Cheshire each August, in the festival baby of Liverpool superclub, Cream WOMAD Festival of world music that’s been going on in the West Country each July since 1982 Spin-off WOMAD fests now occur around the world Edinburgh Jazz and Blues The biggest such fest in Britain usually starts swinging at the end of July A flavour of the 21st century: five albums Parachutes (2000) Coldplay Up the Bracket (2002) The Libertines A Grand Don’t Come For Free (2004) The Streets Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not (2006) Arctic Monkeys Back to Black (2006) Amy Winehouse Boys and girls The 1990s witnessed the rise and, hankies at the ready, the fall of the boy band and the girl group With irritatingly catchy hits like Back For Good (1995) and a young Robbie Williams in their ranks, Take That became pin-ups for prepubescent girls nationwide (not to mention their sizeable gay following) while The Spice Girls sold an unbelievable 55 million records worldwide after hitting the big time with their debut single Wannabe (1996) 183 Identity: the foundations of British culture Literature and philosophy Art, architecture and design Performing arts Cinema, photography and fashion Media and communications Food and drink Living culture: the state of modern Britain